NYT Connections Hints for August 12, 2026 — Puzzle #1158

Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.

Hints and answers for NYT Connections #1158 on August 12, 2026: how many groups there are, a masked theme for each group, then the four categories one at a time, then all sixteen words and the full grouping.

Puzzle date: August 12, 2026 (2026-08-12) · #1158 · Source: the game's public daily data (https://www.nytimes.com/svc/connections/v2/2026-08-12.json). Hints are derived from that day's verified answer data — no invented clues, difficulty scores or word claims.

1. The shape of the puzzle

There are 4 categories of 4 words each (16 words total).

2. The four themes, masked

Each theme below keeps its word shapes and the first letter of every word:

H _ _ _ O _ _ _ A _ A F _ _ _ _ _ _
K _ _ _ _ O _ F _ _ _ _
N _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ _ _
S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

3. Reveal a theme, one at a time

Show theme 1

HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING

Show theme 2

KINDS OF FROGS

Show theme 3

NBC SITCOM SURNAMES

Show theme 4

STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES

NYT Connections answer for August 12, 2026 — puzzle #1158

HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING

HARBOR, NURSE, FOSTER, MAINTAIN

KINDS OF FROGS

TREE, GREEN, BULL, POISON DART

NBC SITCOM SURNAMES

LEMON, BING, SCOTT, BENES

STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES

FINE PRINT, GREAT WHITE, GOODBYE, OKAYAMA

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